Allegiant Flights to Orlando to Continue, but Dates for Service to Move to Monday and Friday in November

There aren’t new flights, but there will soon be new days when flights between Bridgeport and Orlando through Allegiant will be scheduled. At today’s Benedum Airport Authority meeting, North Central West Virginia Airport Director Rick Rock said the Thursday and Sunday flight schedule will be changed.

Starting in November, the Allegiant Airline flights will run Monday and Friday. Rock told the Authority, the airport’s governing body, that they consider those days to be top flight spots. As of now, Rock said the exact starting time of those flights will begin in November.

“What we hope that it signals is that it will open up days for future growth,” said Rock “to either add additional days to the week to the destinations that we have or maybe a new route. It’s just speculation at this point, but we were told that this was a good sign.”

Those telling Rock that were the individuals at the top of the food chain – Allegiant officials. Rock recently wrapped up a three-day visit in Las Vegas at the Allegiant conference where he was joined by Authority member and Bridgeport Mayor Robert “Bob” Greer. The meeting, which ended April 27, went well.

Rock said the reason Allegiant continues to work with the NCWV Airport is based primarily on the numbers being produced.

In fact, Rock said the airport is actually anticipating what could be a record month for the airline that flies to Orlando Sanford International Airport directly from Bridgeport. He’s basing that on what’s in store for June based on flights and bookings.

“We had a great April and we’re having a great May, even though the final numbers won’t be in for a couple of weeks,” said Rock. “In June, we have 21 flights. That could give us between 2500 to 3100 enplanements (passengers).”

The airport has typically had Allegiant flights at 90 percent or greater capacity each month it’s been in service. Last month proved to be one of the best on record as the airport had 1,744 passengers utilize the flight to the Orlando area.

Those numbers have helped spike the airport’s passenger numbers for the year despite its daily service provider – ViaAir – being told its services were over in mid- to late-April.

“We’re actually 529 passengers ahead of where we were for last year with all of our flight services,” said Rock.

Right now, the airport has had 7,742 passengers through April. What that means is barring something unforeseen, the NCWV Airport should easily surpass that 10,000 enplanement threshold that qualifies the airport for FAA-provided Airport Improvement Project dollars of $1 million.

Check back to Connect-Bridgeport for more on this meeting in the days ahead.

Editor's Note: Top photo shows an Allegiant flight arriving in Bridgeport, while Authority members, from left, David Hinkle, Ron Watson Ernie Coffindaffer, and Kris Cinalli listen to presentations from Rock and others at the session in the terminal building.